Mopey

Shouldn't that be one of the dwarves names from Snow White?

I'm not feeling very perky today. I am missing mom terribly with the holidays approaching. The way she was planning shopping trips, decorating the house, family get togethers. I know christmas is not going to be the same with out her at all, and I know that means it's time to make some new memories. Of course, I'd rather just have her back in my life, but that's a wish that won't come true. So now I am just waiting and slightly dreading going home. Part of me wants to stay here in my own reality, dealing with my own depression and troubles. But now I'm one of the grown ups and it's my job to help out those who need it. I am the oldest daughter and big sister.

We had a wonderful vacation. Much wine was drunk and bought, and much money was spent, and we now have a closet full of wine. We are not allowed to buy any more until we can clear some space. Who wants to come over and help us drink it? That's all I need. Another depressant.

Heat wave

I know, I know. You feel so bad for me because it's almost 90 today and I'm melting. Most of the rest of the country is freezing, and here I am, able to get a tan just by going for my regular Monday walk with Mary on the Venice Beach Boardwalk. But let me tell you, I would welcome a cold snap after weeks of this heat. We have our a/c on almost all the time. Oddly enough, I'm really looking forward to the Seattle weather of rain and cold just so I can cool down.

Quickies

Instead of getting the rest of the mole removed, I just got my stitches out. In about 2 more days I can remove the bandage and will go back to get the rest of it removed in January.

GenCon SoCal was fun but small. Saw Gamers 2 twice and laughed very hard. We will be bringing up a copy during our holiday visit so we can share it. It's the best work they've done so far, and I'm really proud of them, especially Matt.

Thursday is Thanksgiving and we're heading to Venice Beach for a potluck.

Friday we take off for Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, and Nipomo...also know as wine country! Can't wait. We've needed time together for so long, just us...no distractions. We're celebrating my birthday, his birthday, and our anniversary.

And I have a furry fluffy kitty laying belly up on the kitchen floor...so cute. She's trying to stay cool in this weird SoCal weather. 80-90 degrees in November. What the heck!?

Gamers...

This week has just been full of gaming.

I hate to admit it, in a way, but I have found an online game that I just love and yes, it is gaming. For all of you that I have told "I can't stand gaming." I didn't know about Puzzle Pirates. Find out more about it here. I love it and it's a great escape from the world in my head when the world gets to be too much.

Matt has become addicted to World of Warcraft. I assume you all know what that is? He's researching for Gamers 3, becoming immersed in this world of quests and mythical creatures. He's only been playing a couple of weeks but I can tell you that I have felt like a Worldcraft Widow already.

Tomorrow we are off to GenCon SoCal in Anaheim and staying the night at a nice hotel. There are 2 screenings of Gamers 2 scheduled and we're hoping for a 3rd one on Saturday night. It should be fun, and I get to have some time with my husband which is very important.

Stiches

So that birthmark that I have near my left eye? Turns out it's a mole. A mole I have wanted to get rid of for the past year. For reasons that I will not share, I have finally started the process of getting it removed! Friday I went in for surgery and was totally fine afterward even with the anesthesia coursing through my veins. I was even able to take the subway home. This Friday I go in again to get the second part of it removed, and then I imagine I'll go back in another week to get the stiches out. It will be interesting not to have it on my face anymore. I can't remember a time when it wasn't there. As my friend Dawn said, "It will be a whole new you!"

My tailbone is feeling better but still sore. I take tylenol everyday. :)

Errands and travels

Today I have to drive my sore behind to LAX because I left my meds on the British Airways flight from London. Apparently British Airways "doesn't mail" so I have to drag myself on a potentially 2 hour trip (depending on traffic) for one measly bag of meds. Granted, it's an expensive measley bag, but still...the airline can't just stuff it in a bag and mail it? I tried to tell the woman that I'm injured and it's painful to drive and LAX is a long way away, but she just said "Well, I live much further from LAX than you. It's not that far." I wish I could have the ability to slap someone through the phone.

Next weekend is Gencon SoCal. I just found out. It will be first time for me to see Gamers 2 on the big screen which is very exciting. We've got a room for one night at a nice hotel with breakfast included. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again, and seeing the film. I will take pictures, don't worry.

Healing

I'm healing in 2 ways:

My tailbone isn't broken! The chiropractor says it should take another 10 days to heal. If it's not better by that time, then I have to get an internal adjustment. But at least it's not broken or fractured which is a huge relief.

I've been thinking about Mom quite a bit these last few weeks, just wishing she was around and how unfair it is that she's gone. The depression has sunk in and I'm fighting through it, at least I'm trying my best to.

Pain in the butt

I fell on the tour bus in Barcelona on Sunday and landed smack on my tailbone. The flight home was NOT fun, and I'm now in constant pain. After 2 visits to the chiropractor and some xrays, there is a chance that my tailbone could be fractured or even broken. OW. He is waiting to get the review from the xray technicians and will call me on Tuesday to let me know what's going on.

If it's broken or fractured, then I need to see an orthopedic doctor at Kaiser. If it's a subluxation, then I need to get an internal adjustment from a chiropractor in Burbank. Either way, it will hurt, but I'm sure some sort of major pain reliever will be involved. At least I hope so.

A pirate's life for me

My pirate name is:

Mad Dog Bonney

Part crazy, part mangy, all rabid, you're the pirate all the others fear might just snap soon. You can be a little bit unpredictable, but a pirate's life is far from full of certainties, so that fits in pretty well. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
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Pictures from home

View from the front porch. On a clear day you can see the Cascade Mountains.

View from the back porch.

Dad and Johnny on the front porch.

The apple tree in Mom's garden. I had no idea what to do with so many apples, and I don't know that anything will happen to them. But if you need some organic apples, let me know and I can hook you up. :)

Front entrance to the house in Seattle. Sidelight was designed by Mom.

Aunt Muriel, myself, and Emily, who I have not seen in 12 years! It was a great reunion. And kudos to Auntie Mu, who graciously came up to Seattle for another two weeks to look after Katie while Dad was on a business trip.

Exhaustion

I've been up nearly 24 hours. Can't think clearly. Made it home safe, with all bags in tow. Happy to be home. Will eat dinner and go to bed.

Fell down some stairs on the tour bus in Barcelona outside La Familia temple (Goudi). Tailbone hurts like hell and have some pretty bad bruises on my arms. :P 11 hours on a plane from London to LA is not fun.

Barcelona

Oh my god, this place is stunning. I can't get over how different the parts of the city are. You have the new part, which was built when the city hosted the Olympics in '92, with wide streets and square blocks. Then the old part which has little streets that wind and turn before you can see where you are going! We are staying at a lovely hotel called AB Vildomat in the new part of the city, but we're going to walk or take the Metro to La Rambla, which is mainly a pedestrian area full of shops, restaurants, and street performers (much like the 3rd street promenade in Santa Monica).

This afternoon Rafael and Francisco drove us around Barcelona and we had a wonderful lunch at the port near the Olympic Village. I ate paella for the first time and it was divine. Then we drove by Gaudi La Familia cathedral, and there are no words to describe this massive place. I took some great pictures from the street and we get to go tour it tomorrow, along with other Gaudi architecture.

I am in love with this city so far. Very cosmopolitan, yet it feels like a small city.

France

So here we are in St. Etienne (sp) and it's a beautiful warm fall day. Soon we'll take off and explore the town, maybe find a cute french cafe and have lunch. Yesterday we arrived and went straight to the St. Just glass factory which was really interesting. It was a very long day, though, and when I arrived to my room I took out my contacts, changed into my pj's, and climbed into bed. A huge bed, at that, and slept until 8:15! It's really a clue to me that I'm getting older when I consider that 8:15 is "sleeping in".

Last night we went to Magali's house and had champagne, a bunch of french cheeses, salad from the garden, and lasagnae with mushrooms she had picked over the weekend. Lovely! We also met her husband, George, who is a very "french" man, but is charming and interesting and he and Magali get along so very well. They were fun to watch in the kitchen as they made dinner.

Tonight it's an early night because we have to be up at 4:30 in the morning. Our flight to Barcelona isn't until 8:30, but we are an hour from the Lyon airport. One of the girls at the factory, Celcilia, her father owns a cab company, so he has given us a discounted taxi rate to the airport and will take us himself. Should be interesting. He speaks spanish and french, and we speak only English...

I have clothes!

Baggage has been recovered! Came in about 1am, and was delievered to my door. I love this hotel. It's family owned, and you see the same people in the evening and in the morning...it's just wonderful. Charming courtyard that I can enjoy from the deck attached to my room. Everyone rides their bikes here or rides the tram or bus. It's a very environmental city. I love it here. I just wish the German language was a bit easier to understand.

Oh, and Lena, I met someone from Finland. He told me about all the snow in Scandanavia. Dang, girl! :)

Tomorrow is a long day at the conference complete with a dinner party at a hotel. Then we are up very early Thursday morning to make a 7:30am flight to Lyon.

Short and sweet

Real quick, I'm here, okay and hungry for dinner. Tami and I arrived safely yesterday without luggage. Argh! We missed our flight in London (thanks British Airways) and then the new airline lost our luggage (thanks Luftansa). So this morning it was off to a department store filled with lovely european clothes. And our baggage should arrive at the hotel tonight. Yay! I'll return a few items that I bought today, namely the blue sweater and black jacket. But the rest I will keep. The shirt and pants just fit way to well. :)

More later! Must let Tami use the computer now.

White and Nerdy

I love this new video from Weird Al. And keep an eye out for guest appearances by Donny Osmond and Seth Green.

Let's hear it for good taste

You Are Guinness

You know beer well, and you'll only drink the best beers in the world. Watered down beers disgust you, as do the people who drink them. When you drink, you tend to become a bit of a know it all - especially about subjects you don't know well. But your friends tolerate your drunken ways, because you introduce them to the best beers around.

What's Your Beer Personality?

New York Times, baby!

Gamers: Dorkness Rising was mentioned in the New York Times!!!!

Read the full article here.

The best that money can buy

For a whopping $13.00, I bought something that will endlessly entertain humans and cats alike.

A laser pointer.

Getting ready

I take off for Europe day after tomorrow. Here's what I'll be up to:

Saturday - depart Burbank for Seattle, then Seattle to London, then London to Dusseldorf (We get to Germany on Sunday). I get 1.5 days to play in Germany before the conference starts.

M/T/W - Conference with Tami, my lovely co-worker, and my Dad.

Thursday - Depart for Lyon, France

Th/F - In France, meeting with Saint Just glass company. They make hand-blown glass, and we get to hand pick the sheets we want in our next shipment, and maybe even a few hand-blown paperweights.

Saturday - Depart for Barcelona, Spain.

Su/M - In Spain, dip our feet in the Mediteranian, meet with Frandisa glass company. They make unusual but beautfiul architectural glass, well-suited for kitchen cabinets, entry ways, shower doors, etc.

Tuesday - Depart Barcelona for London, London to LAX.

Wednesday at 7:15am - I start fitness bootcamp! :)